(Washington, D.C.) - The Department of Employment Services (DOES), announced that the Washington Metropolitan Division's not seasonally adjusted June 2009 unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percent to 6.8 percent. This resulted in a 2.9 percent increase from June 2008.

Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment 

The civilian labor force in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased by 14,300 in June 2009 as employment rose by 4,700 while those who were unemployed increased by 9,600.

Over the last twelve months, the number of employed residents in the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 80,400. With 67,600 more unemployed division residents, the division civilian labor force decreased by 12,700. 

Job Growth

Total wage and salary employment in the Washington Metropolitan Division increased over the month by 600. The private sector increased by 4,900 jobs while the public sector decreased by 4,300 jobs. Within the private sector, trade, transportation and utilities gained 2,900 jobs, leisure and hospitality gained 2,300 jobs, professional and business services gained 2,100 jobs, other services gained 1,500 jobs, mining, logging and construction gained 500 jobs, and manufacturing gained 200 jobs. Losses were registered in educational and health services (-4,200 jobs), information (-300 jobs), and financial activities (-100 jobs). In the public sector, federal government added 2,000 jobs; while the state government lost 7,000 jobs and the local government lost 700 jobs.

During the last twelve months, the Washington Metropolitan Division decreased by 41,000 jobs. The private sector lost 43,100 jobs while the public sector gained 2,100 jobs. In the private sector, only educational and health services (+4,800 jobs) gained jobs. All other sectors experienced over the year job losses: mining, logging and construction (-14,700 jobs), trade, transportation and utilities (-9,000 jobs), information (-6,000 jobs), leisure and hospitality (-5,300 jobs), financial activities (-5,200 jobs), professional and business services (-3,900 jobs), manufacturing (-2,300 jobs), and other services (-1,500 jobs). In the public sector, federal government gained 5,200 jobs; the state government added 700 jobs; while the local government lost 3,800 jobs.

Statistical Area Civilian Labor Force Employment and Unemployment

The civilian labor force in the suburban ring of communities surrounding the District of Columbia increased by 18,100 in June 2009: the number of employed residents increased by 7,900, while the number of unemployed residents increased by 10,200. The unemployment rate in the suburban ring, at 6.0 percent in June 2009, was 0.3 percent higher than the rate in May 2009.

Over the year, there was a decrease of 81,600 employed residents in the suburban ring. With 68,700 more unemployed suburban residents, the suburban civilian labor force decreased by 12,900. The suburban ring’s June 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.6 percent from June 2008.

For the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area, the number of employed residents increased by 11,100. With 12,900 more unemployed metropolitan area residents, the civilian labor force in the metropolitan area increased by 24,000 in June 2009. The unemployment rate in the metropolitan area, at 6.6 percent in June 2009, was 0.4 percent higher than the rate in May 2009.

Compared to June 2008, the Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s civilian labor force decreased by 15,600. The number of employed decreased by 99,100 and the number of unemployed rose by 83,500.  The Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area’s June 2009 unemployment rate was up 2.8 percent from the June 2008 rate of 3.8 percent.

Washington Metropolitan Statistical Area Job Growth

June 2009 wage and salary employment estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 29, 2009. The estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area will be the summation of the estimates for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division (contained in this release) and the Bethesda-Gaithersburg-Frederick, MD Metropolitan Division (to be released by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation).

To view the data tables, please select the links below:

Wage and Salary Employment by Industry and Place of Work*